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Content of Citation:
"General Orders 1016, Headquarters Far East Air Forces, 5 June 1945 - By
direction of the President, the following unit is cited by the Commanding General, Far
East Air Forces: 9th FIGHTER SQUADRON - The 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, is
cited for outstanding performance of duty in action from 23 October to 7 November 1943.
During this two-week period, units of the Fifth Air Force were designated to strike heavy
blows daily, weather permitting, at the strong Japanese base of Rabaul, New Britain. On 23
October, P-38's of the 9th Fighter Squadron provided part of the escort in bombing attack
on Rabaul. A futile attempt to scatter our bomber formation was made by fifteen to twenty
enemy fighters, but so effective was the fighter protection that not a single enemy plane
completed an attack on the bombers. In this engagement, the 9th Fighter Squadron
definitely destroyed one plane and probably destroyed another. Again escorting bombers to
Rabaul on 24 October, the squadron plunged to the attack as a force of approximately sixty
enemy fighters prepared to intercept the formation over the target. In the fierce battle
which ensued, the 9th Fighter Squadron definitely destroyed six enemy fighters and
probably destroyed two others, completely demoralizing the enemy and enabling the bombers
to inflict heavy damage. On 29 October approximately fifty enemy fighters climbed to
intercept our attacking force but the P-38 pilots, without damage or loss to themselves,
scored another victory by destroying seven fighters and probably destroying one other in
the face of heavy fire from enemy ground positions. On 2 November the 9th Fighter
Squadron, once more on an escort mission to Rabaul, pressed an attack on seventy-five
enemy fighters preparing to intercept our bombers. Destroying at least eight fighters and
probably accounting for two others, the P-38's protected our formation with such success
that it was able to wreck terrific destruction on harbor installations and enemy shipping.
The squadron, on 5 November, encountered fifteen enemy fighters over Lakunai Airdrome and
destroyed two and probably one other. The last of this series of escort missions was made
on 7 November. Reaching the target, the 9th Fighter Squadron again disregarding the
numerical superiority of the enemy, attacked and dispersed an enemy formation of more than
sixty fighters. In this two-week period, flying missions through severe tropical weather
conditions over more than 300 miles of water which was largely enemy controlled, the 9th
Fighter Squadron definitely destroyed twenty-four enemy planes and probably destroyed
seven more, in addition to providing effective protection for our bombers. The success of
these strikes, which contributed in great measure to the neutralization of the enemy in
New Britain, must be credited to a large degree to the gallantry and fighting skill of the
pilots of the 9th Fighter Squadron and to the efficiency and devotion to duty of the
ground personnel who maintained the planes in the peak of combat condition. The
achievements of the 9th Fighter Squadron are in keeping with the finest traditions of the
Armed Forces of the United States."
Citation was signed by General George C. Kenney,
Commanding the Far East Air Forces.
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